In recent years, the use of genetic markers has become more and more prevalent in
beef breeding programs. This research focused on four previously identified single nucleotide
polymorphisms in a leptin gene on chromosome 4 of beef cows. The SNP were E2FB, T945M,
UA1, and UA2. Beef cows used in this research were maintained at the Louisiana State
University AgCenter Central Research Station. Cows consisted of purebred Bos tauras and Bos
indicus cattle as well as crossbreds.
The objectives were to estimate genotypic and allelic frequencies for each SNP and to
determine the influence of cow breed type, cow age, and SNP genotypes on cow calving rate
and date of calving in 2006, cow plasma leptin concentration, body condition score, and
pregnancy status in September of 2006, and cow weight change from April to September in
2006.
Over all cows, each of the genetic markers showed polymorphism. Allelic frequency for
T in these SNP was greater than 0.10. Within cow breed groups the trend for lower or higher
frequencies of homozygous genotypes tended to be consistent. Genotypes TT in E2FB, TT in
T945M, CC in UA1, and TT in UA2 had lower frequencies. Brahman cows were missing both CT
and TT genotypes in UA2 and the UA2‐TT genotype was not present in Braford, Romosinuano
F1 and Brahman F1 breed groups.
Neither of the genetic marker genotypes influenced variation in plasma leptin level (P >
0.05). Several genetic markers had effects associated with cow traits that were of interest to
this research. UA1 genotypes tended (P=0.07) to have an effect on calving rate. UA2 genotypes
were associated (P<0.05) with calving date as well as weight loss. Cow breed group influenced
(P < 0.05) calving rate, Julian calving date, weight change, and palpation status. Six year and
older cows had a larger plasma leptin level and two year old cows had lower body condition
scores than other ages of cows. These results indicate that after adjusting for cow breed group
and cow age, genetic markers UA1 and UA2 appear to be associated with several reproductive
and weight change traits of beef cows.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LSU/oai:etd.lsu.edu:etd-05302008-194733 |
| Date | 04 June 2008 |
| Creators | Fischer, Jr, Douglas Henry |
| Contributors | Cathleen Collett Williams, Donald L. Thompson Jr., Donald E. Franke |
| Publisher | LSU |
| Source Sets | Louisiana State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-05302008-194733/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached herein a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to LSU or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below and in appropriate University policies, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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